Chapter Twenty-One: Unmasked

Shruikan watched with growing amusement as Murtagh and his friends repeated their trick and, incredibly the second chariot fell for it. Shruikan snorted his amusement causing smoke to erupt from his nostrils,

Stupid humans; and you actually think these idiots will beat Murtagh? Shruikan taunted his Rider; all he got back in return was a wave of irritation. Shruikan couldn't deny that if Murtagh and his friends survived he wouldn't let Galbatorix forget. Today may just turn out to be a good day.

Turning his attention back to the arena and Shruikan noticed that a third chariot had been dispatched in the same way as the first two, which left only three chariots. Shruikan was impressed, with a simple manoeuvre Murtagh had halved the number of opponents he faced. But the remaining chariots were now wise to their tricks and keeping to the arena wall, whilst throwing their spears. Shruikan couldn't deny that he was looking forward to seeing what Murtagh and his friends would do to kill the remaining chariots. The black dragon made no effort to hide his feelings and this only served to irritate his Rider further. Shruikan settled in to a comfortable position and made sure his Rider could feel his enjoyment of watching his well thought out plan go wrong. Shruikan decided that when it was over the words I told you so would be the first Galbatorix heard.

Meanwhile, down in the arena, Murtagh was working on a way to defeat the remaining chariots when he heard Demetri give a cry of pain. Looking in the direction of the noise he saw Demetri on his knees a spear in his left thigh, a chariot bearing down on him. Without hesitation or thought Murtagh, ditched his shield and threw himself at Demetri, knocking him out of the chariots path. Sensing a chance, Murtagh ran behind the chariot, which he quickly began to catch. The chariot couldn't go at full speed because of the debris and bodies littering the floor, debris Murtagh could hurdle over with ease. The gladiator with the spear, on spotting Murtagh closing in threw his spear, which Murtagh dodged easily. Once he was right behind the chariot he jumped lithely on board, dispatching the, now weapon less gladiator, with a swift stab to the gut. The driver didn't have time to figure out what was happening before Murtagh slit his throat. Jumping down from the chariot, Murtagh noticed that his fellow slaves had taken a leaf out of his book and had ambushed the penultimate chariot, jumping on board and killing the gladiators. That left just one chariot and two gladiators left. All seven of Proximo's gladiators were still standing.

Murtagh knew how to get rid of this chariot, running to his friends, he ordered them to use the debris to make a barricade. Whilst they started that Murtagh with Apollo and Demetri at his side ran to one of the few horses still standing, cutting it away from the chariot, Murtagh jumped on the horses back, at first the horse reared clearly spooked, but a few quick words in its ear soon calmed it and Murtagh set the horse off at a run. He immediately steered his horse in front of the remaining chariot and then lay low in on the horse, presenting a smaller target for his opponents spear. The gladiator wasn't stupid; he clearly wasn't going to throw the spear until he had a good aim. The gladiator didn't take any notice of Murtagh's friends building a barricade; he had already identified Murtagh as the main threat. Murtagh made sure the chariot remained on his heels as he headed straight for the barricade his friends had finished erecting. Once he reached it his horse acted on instinct and jumped over, however while horses can jump barricades, chariots can't, so when his opponents' horses jumped over the barricade the chariot simply collided with it, causing both gladiators to fall off and they were soon dispatched by the waiting slaves.

With the last gladiators dead, Murtagh jumped down off the horse and was soon surrounded by his fellow slaves, who all shook his hand and patted him on the back. Apollo smiled down at Murtagh and laughing with giddy adrenaline the two friends embraced. Against the odds, they had won and as Murtagh and his friends stood in the middle of the arena, they suddenly heard the roar of the crowd as they cheered and a chant of "Rebels! Rebels!" reverberated around The Colosseum. Murtagh knew then that he and his friends had not only won the fight but they had also won the crowd.

Meanwhile in the Royal Box, King Galbatorix fumed, as the crowd cheered and his treacherous dragon said I told you so and laughed, the King knew he had to control his temper; not something he was renowned for doing. He would have to find another way to kill Murtagh. Thinking quickly, he called his announcer over, who looked terrified to say the least.

"My history may be a little hazy but shouldn't the Rebels have lost the battle against the Forsworn?" the King asked the terrified announcer.

"W…well, y…yes, Sir," the announcer stammered wondering how badly this was going to hurt. To his surprise, however, Galbatorix actually smiled and said,

"No worries, I've always quite liked surprises. That gladiator, who is he?" Galbatorix asked pointing to the gladiator he was sure was Murtagh.

"They call him the Soldier, Sire" the announcer answered, wondering where this was going.

"I'd like to meet him," the King said. The announcer nodded and left to make the necessary arrangements for the King entering the arena to meet a gladiator.

In the middle of the arena, Murtagh looked up at the Royal Box and searched for the King but he was no longer there. Just as Murtagh was starting to wonder where the King had got to, he felt Apollo gently tap him on the shoulder, and then pointed at the approaching guard.

"Gladiator, the King wishes to meet you," the guard announced pointing at Murtagh.

"I am at the King's service." The moment he answered, the Kings personal Guard came marching out of the doors, Murtagh, himself, had used to enter the arena.

"Drop your weapons," the guard demanded. All the slaves looked to Murtagh and it was clear they would only follow his command. Murtagh nodded and dropped his own sword to the ground, this wasn't the time to kill the King, Murtagh sensed; besides he wanted to see Thorn again before he died and he had no doubt that killing the King whilst surrounded by his personal Guard would mean death for sure. Seeing Murtagh drop his weapon, his friends did the same.

Once they were all unarmed the guard formed two columns, facing each other. The King entered walking between the two columns until he stood in front of the slaves, who were all bowing, including Murtagh who, this close to Galbatorix, didn't want to stand out.

"Rise. Well, your fame is well deserved, Soldier. I don't think there's ever been a gladiator like you. Why don't you remove your helmet and tell us all your real name. You do have a name?" said Galbatorix cheerfully. Murtagh watched the King carefully, he knew from experience that not all was as it seemed; instinct told him that something was wrong and as Tornac always said,

Trust your instincts Murtagh, because they are rarely wrong.

Murtagh had no desire to reveal himself to the King so easily, so he answered,

"My name is Gladiator." Murtagh then did something no one else would have dared; he turned his back on his King. That was when the King lost control of his temper.

"How dare you turn your back to me! You will remove your helmet and tell me your name!" Galbatorix yelled at Murtagh's back. Realising that there was no way out of it, Murtagh took a deep breath and removed his helmet, and slowly he turned to face the man he hated most.

"My name is Murtagh Morzansson. Son to a murdered Father. Rider to an abused dragon and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next" declared Murtagh furiously whilst looking Galbatorix straight in the eye, something he had never done in his entire life. Galbatorix, however, didn't seem overly surprised to see Murtagh, but he did seem surprised by the venom in Murtagh's voice and his courage to look Galbatorix right in the eye. Still looking at Murtagh, Galbatorix stepped back and signalled his Guard, who instantly drew their weapons and pointed them at Murtagh. His fellow slaves instantly came to stand at his side, especially Apollo. Murtagh knew they were willing to fight for him but he knew it would be pointless, they were all unarmed.

However, Murtagh was about to get some unexpected help. When the crowd realized what was happening they immediately began to boo. Suddenly a new chant was carried around The Colosseum,

"Live! Live! Live!" It was clear the crowd had found themselves a new hero but more than that they had found someone who had the courage to stand up to the King, someone who wasn't afraid to disobey, someone who was prepared to do what they wished they could. The people of the Empire would like to stand up for themselves but no one was willing to make the King their enemy, and here was a slave who was willing to do just that.

Whatever the King had expected it wasn't to have his people side with a slave over him. Murtagh felt satisfaction at seeing the King's shocked expression. Now Galbatorix looked worried, he could ignore the crowd and give the order to kill but that would turn the crowd against him and might just cause a riot. Galbatorix liked to think of the Empire's citizens as being on his side and he on theirs, it was the message he sent to convince people to fight in his army against the Varden. Galbatorix didn't want to turn his people against him, but he didn't want to let Murtagh live either.

Galbatorix looked at Murtagh with undisguised hatred but Murtagh saw something else in those blood red eyes that he never thought to see; Fear. The King had not expected Murtagh retain popularity with the crowd once his identity was revealed but the crowd clearly didn't care who he was, he had proven himself brave and honourable.

Galbatorix held up his left hand and with his hand shaking, from what Murtagh suspected was suppressed rage, he gave the thumbs up sign that signalled that Murtagh was to live. The crowd cheered and the King gave Murtagh one more furious glare before turning around and storming out of the arena. Murtagh looked around at the cheering crowd, aware that they had just saved his life, suddenly Apollo grabbed his right wrist and lifted his arm triumphantly into the air and when he did the crowd went wild. Apollo looked at Murtagh and gave him a triumphant smile, which Murtagh happily returned.

In a box Proximo was cheering with the rest of the crowd, whilst Oromis stood and applauded. As he looked down at Murtagh, Oromis couldn't help feel a sense of pride towards the young man in the middle of the arena, he had triumphed against the odds and won the favour of the crowd. He had fought well and shown strong tactical knowledge in battle. Whilst he was proud of Murtagh, he also felt a sense of relief, he was still alive but mixed with that was apprehension, the King had looked furious, Murtagh was going to pay for this victory.

Meanwhile, on a plateau overlooking the arena, a massive black dragon let his smug satisfaction flow to his Rider, chuckling at the wave of fury he got back.